Dead red gum floodplain forests and salinized and acidified creek, Bottle Bend NSW, April 2007. Copyright Murray Wetlands Working Group.

By TOM ARUP
January 13, 2010 THE NSW Government has agreed to allow some of the floodwater finding its way into the Murray-Darling river system to flow through to the endangered Coorong wetlands at the mouth of the Murray in South Australia. The decision by the Premier, Kristina Keneally, yesterday comes after immense pressure from the Federal and South Australian governments, which were worried water from the heavy rains would be hoarded by NSW. Until yesterday the NSW Government had been expected to store the estimated 500 gigalitres from the recent heavy rains in the Menindee Lakes in western NSW, which provides water to Broken Hill and local irrigators. But after discussions with the South Australian Premier, Mike Rann, and a public push from the federal Water Minister, Penny Wong, Ms Keneally said yesterday she had given ”in-principle agreement” to allow environmental flows from NSW. “Such an agreement will allow much needed water to reach South Australian Ramsar-listed wetlands while not disadvantaging NSW farmers who are expecting an increased water allocation,” Ms Keneally said. …

NSW to share floodwaters to ease disaster at mouth of Murray